2,200 Tesla Model S electric cars were sold in February.
February Electric Car Sales Jump 68 Percent
Electric car sales were up 68 percent in February compared to the same time last year.
The news comes after a big leap in January as well, when electric car sales were up 58 percent.
Some models stand out in the EV segment’s February results.
- Tesla’s Model X sold approximately 2,100 vehicles compared to 700 last February.
- The Chevrolet Volt increased from 1,126 last year to 1,820 last month.
- The Toyota Prius Prime sold just six cars last February. This February, it was 1,362 cars.
- Chevrolet’s Car of the Year, the Bolt, sold 952 units.
The numbers account for both fully-electric and plug-in hybrid models.
Why the Spark of EV Interest?
It shouldn’t come as a shock (yes, that’s a pun) that electric car sales have climbed so quickly. CAFE standards have become increasingly strict, forcing manufacturers to develop vehicles that use alternative fuels.
The most popular source that carmakers have plugged into is electricity. It’s an inexpensive resource, although manufacturing costs are still much higher than traditional fossil-fuel vehicles.
On top of the pressure from regulating bodies, intriguing additions have made their way to center stage. Lucid Motors, a California-based electric car developer, is now in pre-production sales mode.
Their luxury EV is in direct competition with high-end Tesla models. It’s potential 400-mile range and 1,000-hp battery power can eclipse the Tesla Model S performance.
Other companies such as Volkswagen AG have committed to developing electric cars as a forward-thinking practice. VW’s 2025 plan includes 30 new electric car models, which means they better get to work.
EV Models Embraced
To see how popular and innovative production electric cars have become, you only have to look at the Chevrolet Bolt. It beat the Tesla Model 3 to market, then won Car of the Year at the Detroit-based North American International Auto Show.
Note the wording: Car of the Year, not Electric Car of the Year. Based on its unique design, innovation and technology, the Chevrolet Bolt has entered the spotlight in the electric car marketplace.
A few are duds – the Mitsubishi iMIEV and Smart ED – are destined for the scrap heap. But watch the industry closely as electric cars begin to capture more than the current 1 percent of annual sales.
